NORTH KINGSTOWN—The town is seeking to throw out a Superior Court complaint issued by a group of residents who are opposed to the town’s planned mixed-use development at the intersection of Routes 2 and 102.

NORTH KINGSTOWN—The town is seeking to throw out a Superior Court complaint issued by a group of residents who are opposed to the town’s planned mixed-use development at the intersection of Routes 2 and 102.

The Rolling Greens development, amendments in the town’s Comprehensive Plan for which were approved in December 2012, have been criticized by the Town of Exeter as well, which wants to see the area preserved.
“We think the town’s violations are so clear and, [although] it is probably inconsistent with state ordinances and law, the town’s motive is to get rid of this as quick as possible to avoid any more public hassle,” said William Harsch, attorney for the residents led by Colin O’Sullivan and Rick L. Thompson. “We think the court ought to declare the town doesn’t have a case, and feel very strongly that it is the right thing to do.”
The residents have claimed that the process for approving the comprehensive plan, land-use and water service area maps to accommodate the Rolling Greens site and developer Mark Hawkins on Route 102 was confusing to residents in the fall of 2012, and that opposition to the development in the public hearings held at that time was ignored, including signed petitions given to the council and North Kingstown Planning Commission.
On Dec. 18, 2012, the planning commission voted to approve the development, finding that it satisfied the town’s Compact Village Development (CDV) requirements and was consistent with North Kingstown’s Comprehensive Plan.
Town Solicitor James Reilly, however, does not feel that the residents’ case holds water.
“We are moving for summary judgment to ask the court to throw it out,” said Reilly. “What they are contending is that the zone change was not valid because the Comprehensive Plan change was not properly advertised. It is our position that they were in the paper for three successive weeks, which is required.”

For the rest of this story and more local news, pick up the Sept. 19 edition of the Standard Times.